Putting Out Fires
Please welcome my friend Tama Fortner as today’s guest writer. Tama is an Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) award-winning and bestselling author with more than sixty titles to her credit. Her latest releases include Serah and the First Christmas; Prayers for Each Moment; God, I Feel Scared; and Easter Is Coming! She has collaborated with some of the biggest names in Christian publishing to create inspirational books for all ages. But her greatest accomplishments happen in a happy little home on the outskirts of Nashville, Tennessee, with her family and a feisty little pup who is convinced she’s people too. You can receive Tama’s latest bookish news, giveaway opportunities, and more when you sign up for her newsletter.
Too often, I allow the “dings” of alerts to drive my day. I end up putting out fires and getting dragged away from what most needs to be done.
Ding! An email with an urgent request. Ding! A text with another. Ding! A missed call. There’s even a ding to take the dog out. (Though, admittedly, I probably need this one.) Every ding feels like a fire that needs putting out.
That expression—“putting out fires”—has its roots in actual firefighting.
Firefighters rush to put out fires before they spread or cause more damage. Over time, this expression came to describe addressing urgent problems before they spread or cause damage. Sounds good, right?
Its modern meaning is a bit different, though. Cambridge Dictionary defines it this way: “to spend time on problems that need to be dealt with quickly, instead of working in a calm, planned way.” Ugh.
Real fires demand real attention.
But not every ding is a fire.
So when the next ding comes, instead of plunging headlong into firefighting mode, pause and pray. Ask God to show you what is urgent, what can wait, and what was never your fire to put out in the first place.
Because while you may be “worried and upset about many things,” Jesus reminds us only one thing is needed: Him. (Luke 10:41–42).
Image by Enrique from Pixabay.
An Autographed Book Giveaway from Tama
On 10-21-26, Diana will randomly select the name of one person on her mailing list to receive a free autographed copy of Tama’s book, Serah and the First Christmas. Please encourage your friends to join Diana’s mailing list for a chance to win Tama’s book. Email Diana if anyone signs up and receive an extra chance to win.